Therapeutic garment, apparatus, method, and system having inflatable bladders

Abstract

A therapeutic garment includes at least one first expandable bladder configured to underlie a wearer's left shoulder blade, at least one second expandable bladder configured to underlie the wearer's right shoulder blade, and an actuator configured to alternatingly (a) expand the at least one first expandable bladder from a collapsed state to an expanded state such that the wearer's torso is rolled in a rightward direction and (b) expand the at least one second expandable bladder from a collapsed state to an expanded state such that the wearer's torso is rolled in a leftward direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A therapeutic garment, comprising:
 at least one first expandable bladder configured to underlie a wearer's left shoulder blade; 
 at least one second expandable bladder configured to underlie the wearer's right shoulder blade; 
 at least one percussive mechanism to transmit ultrasonic waves to the wearer's lungs, wherein the at least one percussive mechanism is disposed in the at least one first expandable bladder and the at least one second bladder; and 
 an actuator configured to alternatingly (a) expand the at least one first expandable bladder from a collapsed state to an expanded state such that the wearer's torso is rolled in a rightward direction and (b) expand the at least one second expandable bladder from a collapsed state to an expanded state such that the wearer's torso is rolled in a leftward direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first expandable bladder is elongated with a longitudinal axis parallel to the wearer's anteroposterior axis, and the at least one second expandable bladder is elongated with a longitudinal axis parallel to the wearer's anteroposterior axis. 
     
     
       3. The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the rate of the alternating rolling is adjustable. 
     
     
       4. The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said
 at least one percussive mechanism further transmits 
 a direct percussive effect to the wearer's lungs. 
 
     
     
       5. The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one vibratory mechanism configured to transmit vibrations to the wearer's lungs. 
 
     
     
       6. The garment according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one vibratory mechanism is disposed in the at least one first expandable bladder and the at least one second expandable bladder. 
     
     
       7. The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one control panel to set at least one of (a) an intensity of treatment, (b) a duration of treatment, and (c) a frequency of treatment. 
 
     
     
       8. The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one sensor to detect at least one of (a) urinary soilage and (b) fecal soilage. 
 
     
     
       9. The garment according to  claim 8 , further comprising an alarm that is configured to be triggered by the at least one sensor upon the detection of at least one of (a) urinary soilage and (b) fecal soilage. 
     
     
       10. The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one third expandable bladder configured to exert a pressure on a vascular access of the wearer that is sufficient to reduce bleeding from the vascular access. 
 
     
     
       11. The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the percussive mechanism is disposed on each the at least one first expandable bladder and the at least one second bladder on a side adjacent the wearer's back configured to improve pulmonary hygiene. 
     
     
       12. A therapeutic garment, comprising:
 at least one first expandable bladder configured to underlie a wearer's left shoulder blade; 
 at least one second expandable bladder configured to underlie the wearer's right shoulder blade; 
 at least one vibratory and percussive mechanism configured to transmit at least one of (a) ultrasonic waves and (b) a direct percussive effect, to the wearer's lungs, said at least one vibratory and percussive mechanism disposed on the at least one first expandable bladder and the at least one second expandable bladder; and 
 an actuator configured to alternatingly (a) expand the at least one first expandable bladder from a collapsed state to an expanded state such that the wearer's torso is rolled in a rightward direction and (b) expand the at least one second expandable bladder from a collapsed state to an expanded state such that the wearer's torso is rolled in a leftward direction. 
 
     
     
       13. The garment according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one vibratory and percussive mechanism is a cupping mechanism. 
     
     
       14. The garment according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one vibratory and percussive mechanism is a rotating paddle mechanism. 
     
     
       15. The garment according to  claim 12 , wherein the vibratory and percussive mechanism is disposed on each the at least one first expandable bladder and the at least one second bladder on a side adjacent the wearer's back configured to improve pulmonary hygiene.